Islamic website www.everymuslim.com
quoting Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahra, from his book Concept
of War in Islam; writes

"Islam advocates clemency with captives. History has never known warriors so
merciful to their captives as the early Muslims who followed the teachings of
their religion. Numerous religious texts demand clemency with captives." It goes
on to say the Koran offers only two alternatives regarding the captives – free
dismissal or ransoming – without referring to enslavement.

The official website of Middle East Media Research Institute, memri.org,
recently posted a summary of an article from another website, probably run by
Chechens. This article has different views on the issue of treatment of
prisoners under Islam.

(ref: http://memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD43402)

The article under reference is titled "A Guide to the Perplexed Regarding the
Permissibility of Killing Prisoners," which appeared in the column "Jihad News
from the Land of the Caucasus". In this the author suggests that the Islamic
religious scholars present five different alternatives, drawn from the various
interpretations of the Koran:
1) A polytheist prisoner must be killed. No amnesty may be granted to him, nor
can he be ransomed.
2) All infidel polytheists and the People of the Book (i.e., Jews and
Christians) are to be killed. They may not be granted amnesty, nor can they be
ransomed.
3) Amnesty and ransom are the only two ways to deal with prisoners.
4) Amnesty and ransom are possible only after the killing of a large number of
prisoners.
5) The Imam, or someone acting on his behalf, can choose between killing,
amnesty, ransom or enslaving the prisoner.

The above two are diagonally opposite views of Islam about the treatment of
prisoners.

How is one to arrive at a rational opinion regarding what Islam really says
on this issue?

The best way, I believe is to look into what Islamic scriptures have to say.
Of course, the most authentic source of Islam is the
Koran itself and after the
Koran it is the recorded traditions of the Prophet known as the Hadis. Of all
the four most well known traditions, the one compiled by Imam Bukhari is deemed
to be most authentic.

On the question of taking prisoners and freeing them with ransom,
Sahih
Al-Bukhari records

"It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and
free them with ransom) until he has made a great slaughter (among his enemies).
You desire the good of this world (money or ransom) but Allah desires (for you)
the hereafter, and Allah is All-mighty, All-Wise." (Sahih Al- Bukhari, vol. 4,
pp. 161)

This is claimed to be as Statement of Allah

What should be done with the warriors of the defeated people?

When the tribe of Bani Koreiza was defeated, they were ready to accept S’ad’s
judgement. So the Prophet sent for S’ad who was near to him. S’ad came and sat
next to the Prophet who said to him, "These people are ready to accept your
judgement." S’ad issued his judgement that the their warriors should be killed
and their children and women should be taken as prisoners." The Prophet then
remarked, "O, S’ad! You have judged amongst them with (or similar to) the
judgement of the King (Allah)." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 176)

It is worthwhile to note that the Prophet did not intervene to say that the
prisoners should be freed but commended S’ad’s judgement as "similar to
judgement of the King (Allah)."

As a consequence all the seven or eight hundred men of the Jewish tribe were
put to death in one day and the women and children sold into slavery and the
spoils divided among the army. The same day her husband and all her male
relatives were killed, the Prophet invited Reihana, the Jew to be his wife; an
offer she declined, and chose to remain his slave or concubine. (The Life of
Mahomet by Sir William Muir)

Many commentators claim Islam prohibits killing of women and children. While
there is a hadith where the Prophet prohibits killing of women and children
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 160) but there is also a Hadith that says a raid
on the enemy should not be abandoned just because it might endanger the lives of
women and children. (Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 158-159)

Thus the incidental killing of women and children has the sanction in the
traditions of the Prophet. In the aftermath of 9/11, the oft repeated contention
that killing of women and children is not allowed in Islam is not true.

It is not surprising that some Muslims conquerors have followed the practice
of killing the prisoners and defeated combatants. To give one example: Hajjaj,
the governor of Irak asked Muhammad bin Kasim to lead an expedition on Sind in
712 CE. Chach-nama – historical account of Sind -- records "after the conquest
was effected, and the affairs were settled and the report of conquest had
reached Hajjaj, he (Hajjaj) sent a reply to the following effect:"

"O my cousin; I received your life inspiring letter. I was much pleased and
overjoyed when it reached me. The events were recounted in an excellent and
beautiful style, and I learnt that the ways and rules you follow are comfortable
to the Law. Except that you give protection to all, great and small alike, and
make no difference between enemy and friend. God says, -- Give no quarter to
Infidels, but cut their throats. Then, know this is the command of the great
God….." (The History of India as told by its own Historians by Elliott and
Dowson, vol. 1)

Beside this the Muslim conquest of India is full of Hindu prisoners being
made slaves and sold in the markets of Ghazni and beyond, forced to convert to
Islam at the point of sword and killed for refusing to do so.
Timur Lang’s
killing of 100,000 Hindu prisoners in one day is unparallel in history

Yes, there were times when the Prophet spared the lives of the prisoners but
generally it was on one of the two conditions – either they converted to Islam
or accepted the status of dhimmies and paid the jiziya. Muslim conquerors of
India have followed this practice also.

In its posting, memri.org summarizes the article saying the author prefers
the position that "the Prophet Muhammad had dealt with the prisoners in
different ways to maximize the benefits to Muslims."

The position that "the Koran offers only two
alternatives regarding the captives – free dismissal or ransoming – without
referring to enslavement" does not have much basis. The underlying
message that one gathers is whatever is good for the Muslims and serves the
interests of Islam is valid.